Paul’s Faithfulness to God’s Call

Acts 21 - 28

John 15:18-20

18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.

Faithfulness

Faithfulness

Hebrews 11:1 says that ‘Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.’

Paul’s faithfulness to God’s call

Acts 21 – Paul heads to Jerusalem

Acts 21:4

We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.

Acts 21:10-11

10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabuscame down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”

Paul’s faithfulness to God’s call

Acts 21 – Paul heads to Jerusalem

- Beaten by a crowd of Jews who false accused Paul

- Arrested by Roman guards who thought he was an Egyptian terrorist

Acts 9:15-16

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Acts 9:15-16

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Acts 20:22-24

22“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Hebrews 3:1

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.

Our Calling

1) Our first calling is that we would come to the realisation that we are all Children of God and we are called to come back into a relationship with our Heavenly Father. – Romans 8:15-17

2) Our second calling is that we would go and bear witness for Christ wherever we are in life. – Matthew 28:18-20

Romans 8:15-17

15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Our Calling

1) Our first calling is that we would come to the realisation that we are all Children of God and we are called to come back into a relationship with our Heavenly Father. – Romans 8:15-17

2) Our second calling is that we would go and bear witness for Christ wherever we are in life. – Matthew 28:18-20

Matthew 28:18-20

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Build your life on Christ

Isaiah 28:16 - Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.

Hebrews 3:4-6 it says 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

Acts 20:22-24

22“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Paul’s faithfulness to God’s call

Acts 21 – Paul heads to Jerusalem

- Beaten by a crowd of Jews who false accused Paul

- Arrested by Roman guards who thought he was an Egyptian terrorist

Acts 22 - Paul addresses the crowd

Paul’s faithfulness to God’s call

Acts 21 – Paul heads to Jerusalem

- Beaten by a crowd of Jews who false accused Paul

- Arrested by Roman guards who thought he was an Egyptian terrorist

Acts 22 - Paul addresses the crowd

Acts 23 – Paul before the Sanhedrin

Acts 24 – 26 – Paul before Roman Governors

Revelations 12:11

11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Your Testimony

Paul’s faithfulness to God’s call

Acts 21 – Paul heads to Jerusalem

- Beaten by a crowd of Jews who false accused Paul

- Arrested by Roman guards who thought he was an Egyptian terrorist

Acts 22 - Paul addresses the crowd

Acts 23 – Paul before the Sanhedrin

Acts 24 – 26 – Paul before Roman Governors

Acts 27 – 28 – Paul arrives in Rome

God’s Faithfulness to Paul

Acts 23:11 – ‘the Lord stood near Paul and said ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome’.

Acts 27:23-25 - 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.